The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-01-29


has 80 far been made than at the same time
in any previous session for some years.
REGARDING APPROPRIATIONS.
While no appropriation bills have yet
been passed, and very few even considered
IL IL quite certain, IN view OF the fact that
nearly or all the various State institutions
are asking for appropriations largely In ex-
cess of their demands Of two years ago. as
shown by the figures given 10y Governor
Luce in his inaugural message, that the
appropriations uade by the present Legis-
allure, general and special, will not fall
short of $4,000 900. or at least half
million dollars more for 1879 than foi
1856.
SOCIAL PURITY.
In response To the unanimous wish OF the
women OF Michigan for a better law for the
protection OF the girls OF onr State, Repre-
sentative Harrington, of Oakland, has IN
uoduced a bill 10 amend the laws relative
TO offenses against the lives and persons of
individuals" The present law fixes the
"age OF consent AT ten years, which allows
many rascal TO escape just punishment
for assaults on young girls with simple
conviction OF adultry, when lac should be
punished for rape. The State Grange, al
its recent annual session, adopted rosolu-
tions asking the Legislature To raise the age
of conse.t To eighteen years, and that is
what Mr.. Herrinetons bill seeks To do.
Statistics show that Washington Territory
has recently raised the age To fourteen
years, while Massachusetts last year raised
II To thirteen, and Nebraska and Nevada
put IL nc twelve two years ago, and Virginia
last year followed suit. Ia all the other
States ten years ~ retained, as ut present
in this State. After two full halliday ses-
sions spent in the consideration of this bill
h. % n
promise between the present ten and the
eighteen asked for. Ii was thought that
at eighteen the way would be open for
numberless suits for blackmail by those
abandoned girls who are just as deprayed
mt fifteen or sixteen as nj eighteen
or twenty. The bill was finally recon-
mitted TO the Judiciary Committee,
but it is likely to pass 10th houses at
fourteen years, as 1t now reads. AS
this Is n subject that interests every father
and mother in the State, Il is perhaps as
important as any that IL likely TO be- con-
sidered Mt the present session.
SOLDIERS HOME INVESTIGATION.
A Legislature without an investigation or
/ two would be no Legislature Mt all, and this
| IL likely TO be no exception 10 those OF
/ former years. The House has adopted,
and the Senate will do the same, the fol-
| lowing resolution, offered on the 10th, by
Representative Rumsey:
| WHEREAS, Certain newspapers of the
State contain insinuations aud charges
| against the good management of the SOL
diers' Home nj Grand Rapids, insinuating
and claiming that the institution is mis-
managed; that its inmates are neglected
| and abused, and used like dogs, aud that II
| IL a hell rather than "A humane institution;
therefore,
ResOircd the Senate concurring), That
n select committee, consisting OF three of
| the House and two OF the Senate, be APP
pointed TO investigate the Insinuations and
charges of bad management nj that institu-
ton.
Rcsolred further, That said committee
be and it is hereby authorized to hold ses-
sons nj the Soldiers Home or sewhere,
10 administer oaths, To enforce the attend
ance of witnesses, to take testimony, en-
ploying clerk or stenographer therefor, If
| they shall find the same necessary, and To
perform all such duties as II shall decide
best, To ascertain fully the truth or falsity
Of such newspaper Institutions aud charges,
| and report their doings TO this Legislature
at the earliest possible day.
THE PEOHIBIroRY AMENDMENT
has not yet been acted on I'm the Senate,
the only action had on IL this week being
TO make It's consideration special order
for the 9th inst. IL is positively known
that Senator Seymour will not vote for IL,
while IL is not MT all certain that Senator
Hubbcll will, yet one Democratic Senator
IL understood TO have said that the amend
ment shall 60 To the people next spring
with Mr.. Hubbclfs vote IL II can and with
ont il If il must. Mr.. Ilubbcl voted for II
two years ago, and IL Is more than likely
that he will do SO again this. The Pro-
hibitionists have all along been saying thni
they did not want the submission unless II
could come through their own party, which
everybody knows can never beat least moi
for a century or two. Their State Central
Committee, in session here on the 10th,
recognizing that fact, passed the following
resolution.
"Rcsoired, That true 10 our sound prin-
ciplcs, Ina harmony with all our previously
authorized utterances on this subject. and
regardless Of any political considerations
which may in part influence their actions
in the premises, We hail with much salts
faction the prospective passage of joint
resolution 10y the Legislature now IN ses-
sion submitting To vote of the people d
prohibitory amendment, and in the event
OF It's passage We hereby pledge ourselves
10 exert our utmost influence, in concert
with tho temperance men of all other par.
ties, TO secure it's adoption at the polls"
DRTEF MENTION.
Governor Luce nominated and the Sem
ate confirmed on tho 10th another long list
OF notarics and the following nppointiv,
State officers Member of the Board OF FISH
Commissioners, Joel G.. Parker, OF Grand
Rapids: member of Board of Control OF
State Reform School, William Donaynn
of Lansing; trustees OF Traverse City In
sane Asylum, Narnum u. Cochran. Of Mar.
ouette and Loren H. Roberts OF Trayers,